Automatic product harvesting method and control system

ABSTRACT

A method of moving a component of a harvester that includes a topper for cutting top portions of crops, a conveyor for transporting the cut stalks of the crops, a primary hood, and a secondary hood, each of the primary and secondary hoods operable to direct the cut top portions of the crops away from the conveyor. The method includes selecting a cutting mode of operation from the following modes of operation: circular cutting mode and face cutting mode; selecting a crop position from the following crop positions: crop at right and crop at left; selecting at least one component from the following components: the conveyor, the primary hood, or the secondary hood; and in response to selecting at least one component, automatically moving the selected at least one component to one of a first operational position or a second operational position.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a method of harvesting material.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a method of moving acomponent of a harvester. The harvester includes a topper for cuttingtop portions of crops, a conveyor for transporting the cut stalks of thecrops, a primary hood, and a secondary hood, each of the primary andsecondary hoods operable to direct the cut top portions of the cropsaway from the conveyor. The method includes selecting a cutting mode ofoperation from the following modes of operation: circular cutting modeand face cutting mode; selecting a crop position from the following croppositions: crop at right and crop at left; selecting at least onecomponent from the following components: the conveyor, the primary hood,or the secondary hood; and in response to selecting at least onecomponent, automatically moving the selected at least one component toone of a first operational position or a second operational position.

In another embodiment the disclosure provides a method of moving acomponent of a harvester. The harvester includes a side knife forcutting crops along a substantially vertical plane, a base cutter forcutting crops along a substantially horizontal plane, and a crop dividerconfigured to separate crops into rows. The method includes selecting acutting mode of operation from the following modes of operation:circular cutting mode and face cutting mode; selecting a crop positionfrom the following crop positions: crop at right and crop at left;selecting at least one component from the following components: the sideknife, the base cutter, or the crop divider; and in response toselecting the at least one component, automatically moving the selectedat least one component to one of an operational position or a travelposition.

In another embodiment the disclosure provides a control system for aharvester. The control system includes a plurality of actuators. Eachactuator is operable to control movement of one of the following: atopper for cutting top portions of crops, a base cutter for cuttingbottom portion of the crops to separate stalks of the crops from rootsof the crops, a conveyor for transporting the cut stalks of the crops, aprimary hood, and a secondary hood, each of the primary and secondaryhoods operable to direct the cut top portions of the crops away from theconveyor. The control system further includes a controller in electricalcommunication with each actuator of the plurality of actuators. Thecontroller is configured to receive a signal indicative of anoperational position of at least one actuator of the plurality ofactuators associated with the conveyor, the primary hood, and thesecondary hood, and send a signal to the at least one actuator of theplurality of actuators to initiate movement of the at least one actuatorof the plurality of actuators in response to the received signal.

In another embodiment the disclosure provides a control system for aharvester. The control system includes a plurality of actuators. Eachactuator is operable to control movement of one of the following: aknockdown roller for pressing crops down, a side knife for cutting cropsalong a substantially vertical plane, a base cutter for cutting cropsalong a substantially horizontal plane, and a crop divider configured toseparate crops into rows. The control system further includes acontroller in electrical communication with each actuator of theplurality of actuators. The controller is configured to receive a signalindicative of an operational position of at least one actuator of theplurality of actuators, and send a signal to the at least one actuatorof the plurality of actuators to initiate movement of the at least oneactuator of the plurality of actuators in response to the receivedsignal.

Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a harvester according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the harvester of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of a circular cutting mode.

FIG. 3B is a schematic view of a face cutting mode.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of the crop positioned at the left of theharvester.

FIG. 4B is a schematic view of the crop positioned at a right of theharvester.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating one possible mode of operation ofthe harvester of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the followingdrawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments andof being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a sugar cane harvester 10 for harvesting sugarcane and a vessel 12 for retaining the harvested sugar cane. Theillustrated harvester 10 includes a topper 14, crop dividers 16, aknockdown roller 18, a cab 20, an engine 22, side knives 24, basecutters 26, feed rollers 28, a chopper 30, a basket 32, a primaryextractor 34, a conveyor 36, a secondary extractor 38 and a controlsystem 40. In some embodiments, other harvesters can be utilized inplace of the illustrated sugar cane harvester 10. In still otherembodiments, any conveyor structure for transporting loose material,such as mining which moves loose rocks, can be utilized in place of theillustrated sugar cane harvester 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates the unharvested crop with a plurality of verticallines and the harvested crop as the absence of vertical lines. As shownin FIG. 2, the unharvested crop is positioned on the left of theharvester 10.

The topper 14 cuts leaves off of the top of the crops. The illustratedtopper 14 includes a center disk 14 a, a left side disk 14 b and a rightside disk 14 c. The center disk 14 a rotates to discharge cut tops ofthe crops to the portion of the field that has already been harvested.In FIG. 2, the center disk 14 a rotates clockwise to discharge cut cropsonto the right of the harvester 10. The left side disk 14 b and theright side disk 14 c in FIG. 2 rotate counter clockwise to discharge cutcrops to the right side of the harvester. In some embodiments, all threeof the disks 14 a, 14 b and 14 c are powered, but in other embodiments,only the center disk 14 a is powered and the left and right side disks14 b, 14 c are driven by the powered center disk 14 a. If the crop werepositioned at the right side of the harvester 10, the center disk 14 awould rotate counter clockwise and the left and right side disks 14 b,14 c would rotate clockwise.

The crop dividers 16 divide the crops into separate rows to preventuprooting of the crops. The knockdown roller 18 pushes the crop forwardso that the base cutters 26 cut the crops at the ground level. The basecutters 26 cut the crop in a substantially horizontal plane. The sideknives 24 cut the crop in a vertical plane substantially parallel with atravel path of the harvester 10. In FIG. 2, the unharvested crop ispositioned on the left of the harvester 10. In some embodiments, onlythe drop divider 16, the side knife 24 and the base cutter 26 on theleft side of the harvester 10 are operating while the unharvested cropis positioned on the left of the harvester 10. In some embodiments, boththe left and right sides of the crop divider 16, the side knives 24 andthe base cutters 26 can operate while the unharvested crop is positionedon the left side of the harvester 10.

After the crop has been cut by the base cutter 26, the feed rollers 28move the harvested crop toward the chopper 30 to chop the harvested cropinto shorter lengths and move the shorter lengths of the harvested cropinto the basket 32.

The primary extractor 34 includes a hood and a fan to move leaves out ofthe hood such that the leaves are not directed into the basket 32. Theprimary extractor 34 can be pivoted to direct the leaves to the headlandor previously-harvested portion of the field. FIG. 2 illustrates theprimary extractor 34 oriented to direct leaves to the lower right(relative to FIG. 2). If the unharvested crop is positioned to the rightof the harvester 10, the primary extractor 34 would pivot to directleaves to the lower left (relative to FIG. 2).

The illustrated conveyor 36 is a slat conveyor that moves crops from thebasket 32 and into the vessel 12. In FIG. 2, the conveyor 36 extendsfrom left to right to direct the harvested crops into the vessel 12. Theconveyor 36 extends away from the unharvested crops because the vessel12 travels over the previously-harvested crops. If the unharvested cropwere positioned on the right side, then the conveyor 36 would extendtoward the left (relative to FIG. 2). In some embodiments, theillustrated conveyor 36 includes a plurality of slats to move crops upthe conveyor. In some embodiments, the conveyor 36 is an auger.

The secondary extractor 38 includes a hood and a fan to move anyremaining leaves out of the hood such that the leaves are not directedinto the vessel 12. In FIG. 2, the secondary extractor 38 directs leavesdown and to the left. If the unharvested crop were positioned on theright side, then the secondary extractor 38 would direct leaves down andto the right.

The control system 40 can control movement and operation of variouscomponents of the harvester 10 in response to input from a user. Forexample, the user can select a cutting mode of operation. One possiblecutting mode is a circular cutting mode illustrated in FIG. 3A. In thecircular cutting mode, the crop is always positioned on the same side ofthe harvester 10 with respect to the operator in the cab 20. In FIG. 3A,the crop is positioned on the left side of the harvester 10. The controlsystem 40 can send electronic signals to various components of theharvester to move them into the appropriate position for cutting whenthe harvester 10 is cutting (see vertical arrows in FIG. 3A) and intothe travel or stowed position when the harvester 10 is traveling betweencutting rows (see horizontal arrows in FIG. 3A). For example, theconveyor 36 always extends to the right of the operator while cutting inFIG. 3A.

Another possible cutting mode is face cutting mode which is illustratedin FIG. 3B. This may also be referred to as a zigzag cutting mode. Inthe face cutting mode, the crop alternates between being positioned atthe right of the harvester 10 and the left of the harvester 10. Forexample, when the harvester 10 is traveling downward in FIG. 3B, thecrop is positioned to the left of the operator in the cab 20 and theconveyor 36 is positioned to the right of the operator. When theharvester 10 is traveling upward in FIG. 3B, the crop is positioned tothe right of the operator so the conveyor 36 is positioned to the leftof the operator. In the face cutting mode, the conveyor 36 alternatesbetween being positioned to the right or the left of the operator in thecab 20.

The control system 40 can also receive an input from the user selectinga crop position with respect to the harvester 10. In FIG. 4A, the cropis positioned to the left of the harvester 10 and the user can select acrop-at-left crop position. In FIG. 4B, the crop is positioned to theright of the harvester 10 and the user can select a crop-at-right cropposition. In some embodiments, the harvester 10 can harvest more thanone row of crops at a time. Such two-row harvesters include three cropdividers 16 as well as other components. The control system 40 cancontrol operation of the components of two-row harvesters in someembodiments. Some harvesters can harvest more than two rows in each passand the control system 40 can control operation of the components ofsuch harvesters.

The control system 40 can use the inputs from the user regarding thecutting mode (circular cutting mode or face cutting mode) and the cropposition (crop-at-left or crop-at-right) to determine a future cropposition relative to the harvester 10.

The user can select any of a number of features that will moveautomatically in response to an electronic signal from the controlsystem 40. For example, when the user actuates a return-to-cutoperation, the control system 40 can send electronic signals to actuateany or all of the following component movements:

-   -   Begin rotation or change rotational direction of the topper disk        14 a;    -   Lower one or more of the crop dividers 16 into the operational        position;    -   Begin scroll rotation of one or more of the crop dividers 16;    -   Lower the knockdown roller 18 into the operational position 18;    -   Begin rotation of one or more of the side knives 24;    -   Lower one or more of the side knives 24 into the operational        position;    -   Begin rotation of one or more of the base cutters 26;    -   Lower one or more of the base cutters 26 into the operational        position;    -   Actuate the feed rollers 28;    -   Actuator the chopper 30;    -   Rotate the hood of the primary extractor 34 to point away from        the unharvested crop;    -   Actuate the fan of the primary extractor 34;    -   Rotate the conveyor 36 away from the unharvested crop;    -   Actuate the conveyor 36;    -   Rotate the secondary extractor 38 to point away from the vessel        12; and    -   Actuate the fan of the secondary extractor 38.

Similarly, when the user selects an end-of-row command, all of thefunctions listed in paragraph [0027] above can be moved automaticallyinto a transport position or are set to idle speed or stopped whilebeing transported from the end of a row until the start of the next row.Only the functions selected by the user will actuate (i.e., beginrotation, move etc.) in response to the end-of-row command.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart including one possible method ofoperation of the harvester 10. At step 100, the harvester 10 is turnedon and ready to operate and the user selects the return-to-cut commandwhen the harvester 10 is positioned to begin cutting a row. At step 102,the user is then prompted to select a cutting mode of operation from thefollowing modes of operation: circular cutting mode and face cuttingmode. These cutting modes are illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B,respectively. At step 104, the user is then prompted to select a cropposition from the following crop positions: crop at right and crop atleft. These crop positions are illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B,respectively.

At step 106, the user is prompted to confirm which functions will beautomated from the list of functions in paragraph [0027]. The userselects at least one of these functions and can, if desired, select allof these functions to occur automatically when the user selects thereturn-to-cut command. At step 108, the control system 40 determines thedesired rotational direction of topper disks and the desired position ofthe conveyor 36, the primary extractor 34 and the secondary extractor 38based upon the selected cutting mode of step 102 and the selected cropposition of step 104. At step 110, all of the selected functions of step106 occur automatically based upon the determined desired position ofstep 108 to prepare the harvester 10 to harvest crops.

At step 112, the user selects the end-of-row command after the harvester10 has reached the end of a row. At step 114, the control system 40determines the desired direction of movement of the conveyor 36, theprimary extractor 34 and the secondary extractor 38 based upon thedetermined desired position of step 108. At step 116, all of theselected functions of step 106 are disengaged or raised automaticallybased upon the determined desired position of step 114 to reduce fuelconsumption and lengthen the lifespan of the equipment.

At step 118, the control system 10 determines if the circular cutoperating mode was selected in step 102. If the circular cut operatingmode was selected, operation moves to step 120. At step 120, the controlsystem 40 determines that the harvesting mode should not change from theselected mode in step 104. If the circular cut operating mode was notselected, operation moves to step 122. At step 122, the control system40 determines that the harvesting mode should change from the selectedmode in step 104 (i.e., if operating mode A was selected, operationchanges to mode B). After steps 120 and 122, operation moves to step 124in which at least some of the selected functions of step 106 occur whilethe harvester 10 is moving from the end of one row toward the start ofthe next row.

A first possible example of operation includes a user selecting acircular cutting row harvesting mode at step 102 (see FIG. 3A) andselecting a crop-at-left crop position in step 104 (see FIG. 4A). Then,the user selects all of the following functions at step 106:

-   -   1. Begin rotation or change rotational direction of the topper        disk 14 a;    -   2. Lower the crop dividers 16 into the operational position;    -   3. Begin scroll rotation of one or more of the crop dividers 16;    -   4. Lower the knockdown roller 18 into the operational position        18;    -   5. Begin rotation of one or more of the side knives 24;    -   6. Lower one or more of the side knives 24 into the operational        position;    -   7. Begin rotation of one or more of the base cutters 26;    -   8. Lower either or both of the base cutters 26 into the        operational position;    -   9. Actuate the feed rollers 28; and    -   10. Actuator the chopper 30.

At step 108, the control system 40 determines the crop position todetermine which of the crop dividers 16, side knives 24, and basecutters 26 should be activated based upon the determined position of thecrop with respect to the harvester 10. At step 110, the control system40 directs the selected functions (1-8 above) to occur based upon thedetermination of step 108. For example, because the user selected thecrop-at-left position, the topper disk 14 a will begin rotating in theclockwise direction, the crop dividers 16 are lowered and begin scrollrotation, the knockdown roller 18 is lowered, the side knives 24 arelowered and begin rotation, and the base cutters 26 are lowered andbegin rotation. The user can manually control any other necessaryfunctions before the harvester 10 reaches the beginning of the row to becut. After the cutting is completed, the user selects the end-of-rowcommand at step 112 and the control system 40 determines which of thecrop dividers 16, side knives 24, and base cutters 26 need to bedeactivated based upon the determined position of the crop with respectto the harvester 10 at step 114. At step 116, the control system 40directs the selected functions (1-8 above) to cease based upon thedetermination of step 114. For example, because the user selected thecrop-at-left position, the topper disk 14 a will stop rotating in theclockwise direction, the crop dividers 16 are raised and stop scrollrotation, the knockdown roller 18 is raised, the side knives 24 areraised and stop rotating, and the base cutters 26 are raised and stoprotating, The user can manually control any other necessary functionsafter the harvester 10 has finished cutting the row. Then, at step 118,the control system 40 determines if the circular cut mode was selected.Because the circular cut mode was selected, operation moves to step 120in which the crop position with respect to the harvester 10 remains thesame throughout harvesting. Operation then moves to step 124 in whichthe harvester 10 awaits a return-to-cut command.

A second possible example of operation includes a user selecting a facecutting row harvesting mode at step 102 (see FIG. 3B) and selecting acrop-at-right crop position in step 104 (see FIG. 4B). Then, the userselects all of the following functions at step 106:

-   -   1. Rotate the primary extractor 34 to point away from the        unharvested crop;    -   2. Actuate the fan of the primary extractor 34;    -   3. Rotate the conveyor 36 away from the unharvested crop;    -   4. Actuate the conveyor 36;    -   5. Rotate the secondary extractor 38 to point away from the        vessel 12; and    -   6. Actuate the fan of the secondary extractor 38.

At step 108, the control system 40 determines the crop position todetermine the desired positions of the primary extractor 34, theconveyor 36, and the secondary extractor 38 based upon the determinedposition of the crop with respect to the harvester 10. At step 110, thecontrol system 40 directs the selected functions (1-6 above) to occurbased upon the determination of step 108. For example, because the userselected the crop-at-right position, the primary extractor 34 will berotated to the left, the conveyor 36 will be rotated to the left, andthe secondary extractor 38 will be rotated to the right. The user canmanually control any other necessary functions before the harvester 10reaches the beginning of the row to be cut. After the cutting iscompleted, the user selects the end-of-row command at step 112 and thecontrol system 40 determines (at step 114) the desired direction ofmovement of the conveyor 36, the primary extractor 34, and the secondaryextractor 38 based upon the determined desired position of step 108. Atstep 116, rotation of the fan of the primary extractor 34 and the fan ofthe secondary extractor 38 is slowed and may be stopped while theconveyor 36 is rotated automatically based upon the determined desireddirection of movement determined at step 114 to reduce fuel consumptionand lengthen the lifespan of the equipment.

For example, if the user selects the crop-at-right position, theconveyor 36 extends to the left of the harvester 10 and is further movedto extend behind the harvester 10 for transportation. The user canmanually control any other necessary functions after the harvester 10has finished cutting the row. Then, at step 118, the control system 40determines if the circular cut mode was selected. Because the circularcut mode was not selected at step 102, operation moves to step 122 inwhich the crop position with respect to the harvester 10 alternatesbetween crop-at-right and crop-at-left throughout harvesting. Operationthen moves to step 124 in which the harvester 10 awaits a return-to-cutcommand.

Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of moving a component of a harvester,the harvester including a topper for cutting top portions of crops, aconveyor for transporting the cut stalks of the crops, a primary hood,and a secondary hood, each of the primary and secondary hoods operableto direct the cut top portions of the crops away from the conveyor, themethod comprising: selecting a cutting mode of operation from thefollowing modes of operation: circular cutting mode and face cuttingmode; selecting a crop position from the following crop positions: cropat right and crop at left; selecting at least one component from thefollowing components: the conveyor, the primary hood, or the secondaryhood; and in response to selecting at least one component, automaticallymoving the selected at least one component to one of a first operationalposition or a second operational position.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising selecting the topper and in response to selecting thetopper, automatically changing a rotational direction of the topperbetween clockwise and counterclockwise.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the harvester further includes a side knife for cutting thecrops along a substantially vertical plane and a base cutter for cuttingthe crops along a substantially horizontal plane, the method furthercomprising selecting at least one of the side knife or the base cutterand in response to selecting at least one of the side knife or the basecutter, automatically moving the selected at least one of the side knifeor the base cutter between an operational position and a stowedposition.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the harvester furtherincludes a primary fan positioned in the primary hood and a secondaryfan positioned in the secondary hood, the method further comprisingselecting at least one of the primary fan or the secondary fan and inresponse to selecting at least one of the primary fan and the secondaryfan, automatically rotating the selected at least one of the primary fanand the secondary fan at one of a first speed and a second speed.
 5. Amethod of moving a component of a harvester, the harvester including aside knife for cutting crops along a substantially vertical plane, abase cutter for cutting crops along a substantially horizontal plane,and a crop divider configured to separate crops into rows, the methodcomprising: selecting a cutting mode of operation from the followingmodes of operation: circular cutting mode and face cutting mode;selecting a crop position from the following crop positions: crop atright and crop at left; selecting at least one component from thefollowing components: the side knife, the base cutter, or the cropdivider; and in response to selecting the at least one component,automatically moving the selected at least one component to one of anoperational position or a travel position.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the harvester further includes a topper for cutting a topportion of the crops, the method further comprising selecting the topperand in response to selecting the topper, automatically changing arotational direction of the topper between clockwise andcounterclockwise rotation.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein theharvester further includes a primary fan positioned in the primary hoodand a secondary fan positioned in the secondary hood, the method furthercomprising selecting at least one of the primary fan or the secondaryfan and in response to selecting at least one of the primary fan and thesecondary fan, automatically rotating the selected at least one of theprimary fan and the secondary fan at one of a first speed and a secondspeed.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein the harvester further includesa conveyor for transporting the cut stalks of the crops, the methodfurther comprising selecting the conveyor, and in response to selectingthe conveyor, automatically moving the conveyor to one of a firstoperational position or a second operational position.
 9. A controlsystem for a harvester, the control system comprising: a plurality ofactuators, each actuator operable to control movement of one of thefollowing: a topper for cutting top portions of crops, a base cutter forcutting bottom portion of the crops to separate stalks of the crops fromroots of the crops, a conveyor for transporting the cut stalks of thecrops, a primary hood, and a secondary hood, each of the primary andsecondary hoods operable to direct the cut top portions of the cropsaway from the conveyor; and a controller in electrical communicationwith each actuator of the plurality of actuators, the controllerconfigured to receive a signal indicative of an operational position ofat least one actuator of the plurality of actuators associated with theconveyor, the primary hood, and the secondary hood, and send a signal tothe at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators to initiatemovement of the at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators inresponse to the received signal.
 10. The control system of claim 9,wherein the controller is further configured to send an electronicsignal to the actuator operable to control movement of the topper suchthat the topper changes a direction of rotation in response to thereceived signal.
 11. A control system for a harvester, the controlsystem comprising: a plurality of actuators, each actuator operable tocontrol movement of one of the following: a knockdown roller forpressing crops down, a side knife for cutting crops along asubstantially vertical plane, a base cutter for cutting crops along asubstantially horizontal plane, and a crop divider configured toseparate crops into rows; and a controller in electrical communicationwith each actuator of the plurality of actuators, the controllerconfigured to receive a signal indicative of an operational position ofat least one actuator of the plurality of actuators, and send a signalto the at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators to initiatemovement of the at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators inresponse to the received signal.